Unlicensed Wireless Mics in TV Band Would Curb Broadband Goals, Some Say

Allowing unlicensed wireless auxiliary devices on all TV band channels would run counter to the recommendations in the National Broadband Plan, AT&T said in reply comments to an FCC rulemaking. “The proposed rule would delay the implementation of the National Broadband Plan by requiring subsequent commercial broadband licensees to clear the broadcast spectrum of the very low-power auxiliary users this proposed rule would place there."

Licensed use of the TV band for wireless microphones is also problematic, Dell and Microsoft said in joint comments. “Increasing licensed narrowband analog use of this same spectrum will greatly complicate these efforts” to reallocate the 120 MHz of TV band spectrum recommended by the plan, they said. After clearing the 700 MHz spectrum of wireless microphones, the FCC should come up with a longer-term plan to confine the devices to as few channels as possible within the DTV band, Qualcomm said, also citing the spectrum reallocation laid out in the plan. That would “allow the full use of the spectrum for future mobile broadband operations,” it said.

Shure also invoked the plan. The plan recommends exploring reallocating some of the TV band, possibly for unlicensed use, but the plan doesn’t lay out the timing or details of the potential changes, Shure said. “Shure strongly cautions against any Commission action at this time that could force wireless microphone users to make investments that would be placed at risk by further changes in Commission policy.” NAB and the Association for Maximum Service Television pushed for a narrow expansion of Part 74 rules for licensing wireless devices in the band for use by theaters, live music productions, government bodies and worship sites. They opposed unlicensed operation of devices under Part 15 rules.

The FCC should temporarily expand wireless microphone licensing under Part 74 or Part 90 for operation in the 700 MHz band and other parts of the TV band, the Nuclear Energy Institute and Utilities Telecom Council said. The groups were responding to CTIA’s suggestion to strictly limit such expansion. Nuclear plant staff need the devices in their Telex wireless headsets that are “uniquely capable of operating within power plants,” the groups said. The plants need the licenses to operate the headsets until Telex can make and distribute new equipment that operates on other frequencies, they said.